Filipino ‘comfort women’ survivors call for justice at Manila rally

MANILA – Six Filipino victims of alleged Japanese military sexual abuse during World War II staged a rally Thursday in front of the Japanese Embassy over what they say is the continuing disregard by the leaders of the Philippines and Japan of their plight and cries for justice.

The members of Lila Pilipina (League of Filipino Grandmothers) reiterated their demand for justice from the Japanese government ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Manila next week.

Of the 174 original members of Lila Pilipina, only about 90 are still alive. Another group of victims, called Malaya Lolas (Free Grandmothers), had around 90 original members, but only one-third of them remain.

Around 1,000 Filipino women were believed to have been sexually abused by Japanese soldiers during their occupation of the country from 1941 though the end of the war in 1945.

The women, now in their 80s, are asking for a formal apology and just compensation from the Japanese government, and inclusion of the so-called comfort women system during WWII in Japan’s historical accounts and education textbooks.

Narcisa Claveria, 85, said in her remarks at the protest that the group did not regard apologies by Japanese officials as an official apology by the Japanese government.

She likewise criticized Philippine President Benigno Aquino for not understanding their pleas and for not supporting their struggle.

The organization also reiterated its opposition to the strengthening military ties of the Philippines and Japan, warning of a possible repeat of the abuses, especially against women, committed during the war.

The executive direction of the organization said it may not be able to hold another rally when Abe arrives in Manila for the APEC forum next week because of the frail condition of the elderly members.

I don’t understand! Filipino!?! Everyone keeps trying to tell me that the whole thing is a Korean and Chinese lie!

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Well, Japanese right winger, what do you have to say about this? Chinese and Korean propaganda?

Ahojanen

Back in the late 1990s, more than 100 former Filipino comfort women have agreed to receive compensation money from Japan through the Asia Women’s Fund in exchange for the case settlement.

If they are to nullify the agreement, why not first returning the received money to start over? Otherwise the latest move can only be interpreted as extortion and political harrasment. Let’s be fair.

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If Japan is admitting that there were Filipino comfort women, and that Japan has already tried to pay them off, I want to know why the right-wing and apologists keep screaming that the whole thing is a Korean and Chinese lie. Let’s be fair.

Ahojanen

You are biased or highly ignorant from the very beginning. Virtually nobody denies the existence of Filipino comfort women. Notice that the majority of those women were Japanese (about 70%). Study first before posting a crap.

Ahojanen

Back in the late 1990s, more than 100 former Filipino comfort women have agreed to receive compensation money from Japan through the Asia Women’s Fund in exchange for the case settlement.

If they are to nullify the agreement, why not first returning the received money to start over? Otherwise the latest move can only be interpreted as extortion and political harrasment. Let’s be fair.

Ahojanen

Back in the late 1990s, more than 100 former Filipino comfort women have agreed to receive compensation money from Japan through the Asia Women’s Fund in exchange for the case settlement.

If they are to nullify the agreement, why not first returning the received money to start over? Otherwise the latest move can only be interpreted as extortion and political harrasment. Let’s be fair.